Historical information

The P.S. Comet was launched in 1812. Working originally on the River Clyde in Scotland, it was widely recognised as Europe's first commercially successful steamboat service.

Physical description

In 1972 the National Bank used this illustration of Sandridge from Railway Pier, Williamstown, as the illustration for their November 1972 Calendar. It was taken from a work by the colonial artist S.T. GILL and shows the many sailing ships moored of Sandridge Beach as well as the steam vessel 'Comet'.

Inscriptions & markings

In ink below print -Famous for gold rush sketches. Appeared in Gill's "Victoria Illustrated 1857.
Comet was half hourly service to W'Town from 1854 for 8 years owned by Capt GW COLE.(Annotated by Pat GRAINGER)